Clothes wringer



' April 5, 1938.

c. B. WILLIAMS 2,113,187

CLOTHES'WRINGER FiledFeb. 26, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG-2 zzmd @AMW @4224, Wadi away-I I April 1933- c. B. WILLIAMS 2,113,187

CLOTHES WRINGER Filed Feb. 26, 193 1 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 l5 FIG '12 P R 1 Li fir" -%/M4 a/Q/ZM F16 -1 as @ZMK MW/Zw dbtow April 5, 1938. 6,13. 'yvmuAMs 3 ,1 8

CLOTHES WRINGER .File i Feb. 26, 1931' 4 sheets sheet 4 Patented Apr. 1938 Charles B Williams, Shaker Heights, Ohio Application February 26, 1931, Serial No. 518,415

9Claims.

This inventionrelates to a wringer for laundry purposes, and especially to that type of wringer which utilizes rotating pressure rolls to squeeze the water from the garments; Heretofore, in 5 wringers of the pressure roll type, the operator's fingers were sometimes gripped between the rolls, thereby causing injury thereto. Many safety devices have been added to these wringers, t9 permit the operator to separate the pressure rolls. However, such safety devices have relied upon manual operation after the fingers have caught and therefore they have notbeen entirely dependable in preventing injury to the operator. In such safety devices, an alarmis given to the operator by the catching of the fingers between the pressure rolls, and then the operator, with the other hand, reaches out to release a catch or trigger mechanism to separate the rolls, and when the wringer is power driven, the interval, between the entrance of the fingers between the rolls and the actual separation of the rolls, is of such a duration that the continuously rotating rolls sometimes draw the fingers and even the hand injury.

A further object is to provide a wringer of the pressure roll type, wherein garments will first be insertedbetween a guide roll and a pressure roll,

and when the operators fingers become caught.

between those, the two will automatically separate.v

Another object is to provide a wrlnger having a pair of pressure rolls and a guide roll associated with one of the pressure rolls, wherein garments will first be inserted between a guide roll and a pressure roll, and when the operator's fingers be come caught between those, the last named rolls, the pressure between the pressure rolls will automatically be relieved.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a wringer of the pressure roll type, wherein there is a supplemental roll which coacts with one of the' pressure rolls, between which pressure roll and supplemental roll the garments are fed and wherein means are provided to automatically relieve the pressure between the two pressure rolls,

as well as between the supplemental roll and its coacting pressure r011 whenever the operator's fingers become caught therebetween.

Another object is to provide a roll mounting for a wringer of the type having a pair of pressure rolls, an independent supplemental roll adapted to contact with each pressure roll, and a guide member adapted to guide the garments from between either supplemental roll and its correspondingpressure roll into the bite of the two pressure rolls, which'roll mounting permits both supplemental rolls and the guide to move as a unit in a compound rocking movement relative to the pressure rolls and wherein the supplemental rolls may rock relative to each other but wherein the guide will bear substantially the same relationship to eachsupplemental roll at all times.

, Other objects of thisinvention will become apparent from the following description, relating to the accompanying drawings, and the essential, novel characteristics will be summarized in the claims. a

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved wringer; Fig. 2 is a vertical, transverse section through the wringer, and is indicated by the lines 2---2 on Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical section, and is indicated by the oifset lines 3-3 on Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section, andis indicated by the lines 4-4 on Fig. 3-; Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section, indicated by the lines 5--5 on Fig. 3,- and illustrates some of the parts in a difierent position thanshown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a detail and isindicated by the lines 6-6 on Fig. 4; Fig. '7 is a plan of the wringer, certain of the parts being broken away to more clearly illustrate-the internal construction thereof Fig. 8 is asection through a modified form of wringer, the section being substantially in the same plane as Fig.4; Fig. 9 is a vertical section and is indicated by the lines 99 on Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a horizontal section, and is indicated by the lines llllli on Fig. 8; Fig. 11 is aplan of my improved wringer, mounted upon a washing machine of the usual type, wherein the wringer is power driven; Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the wringer mechanism illustrated in Fig. 11; Fig. 13 is a vertical section through a modified form of wringer and illustrates a modified form of roll mounting; Fig. 14 is a vertical section through one end frame member, and is indicated by the lines l4-l4 on Fig. 13; Fig. 15 is a transverse vertical sectional detail illustrating a rocking movement of the supplemental roll assembly; Fig. 16 is an end elevation of the supplemental roll and '50 guide assembly.

Referring again to the drawings, it will be noted that my wringer comprises a pair of wringer or pressure rolls, I II and H, and a pair of auxiliary rolls, l2 and. I4, one of which is associated with each wringer roll, and so mounted that they may be separated therefrom.

As shown in the drawings, the wringer frame comprises a pair of end frame members 20, which are joined together by suitable crossframe members 2| and 22. The end frame members are preferably of pressed metal and have, at their lower extremities, a pair of downwardly extending ears 23, between which the edge of the tub T may be gripped by any suitable means, such as gripping members 24, carried by suitable thumb screws 25, one of which is mounted in' one of the ears 23 of each end frame member.

The rolls I0 and II, which are the pressure rolls, are mounted in a horizontal plane, instead of a vertical plane as has been the custom in the past. The rolls l0 and H comprise the usual rubber wringer rolls 21, which are rigidly secured to suitable shafts 28 and 29. The shafts 28 and 29 are so mounted that the rolls may be resiliently urged into contact with each other, in a horizontal plane. As shown in Fig. 4, each end of the shaft 29 extends beyond the roll 21 and is journalled in a bearing block 30, while each end of the shaft 28 is journalled in a bearing block 3|. The blocks 30, which carry the shaft 29, are supported in a pocket 32, formed in the end frames 20,,while the blocks 3| are rectangular in form'and are 'supported in suitable horizontally extending guideways 33, in bracket members 34, which are pivoted to their respective end frames", as indicated at 35 in Figs. 4 and 5. The bearing blocks 3| are slidably mounted in the guideways 33, and are urged towards the roll I I by suitable compression springs 36 carried in the guideway.

The auxiliary rolls l2 and I4 serve to guide the clothes or garments into the bite of the pressure rolls l0 and l l The rolls l2 and I4 are made of any suitabiematerial, such as a comparatively soft rubber, and are secured to suitable shafts 40 and 4|, which are journalled in bearing plates 43. The'plates 43 are slidably mounted adjacent the inner faces of the end frame members 20, which are slotted to permit a compound rocking movement of the shafts 40 and 4|.

The plates 43 and their associated rolls l2 and I4 are normally urged upwardly, so that the rolls contact with the pressure rolls, as shown in Fig. 2- To this end, each plate 43 has a slot 44, located below and intermediate the rolls l2 and I4. The slot 44 is adapted to receive the opposite ends of a leaf spring 45, which is secured tothe frame member 22, as shown at 46 in Fig. 2. The spring 45 normally exerts only sufficient pressure on the rolls l2 and I4 to feed the garments between them and their associated pressure rolls, from where the garments are guided into the bite of the two pressure rolls, as will be hereinafter described. This pressure is such that it ordinarily will not injure the hand of the operator, if the band should become caught between one of the rolls l2 or 14 and its associated pressure roll. Moreover, this pressure is such that the hand, when caught, may

ordinarily be withdrawn without causing injury thereto. Y

As shown in the drawings, the rolls l2 and I4 either smaller, larger or of the same There is $uflicient space provided between the four to ac ommodate a guide member such as abite of a pressure roll III or II, and its associated auxiliary roll 12 or l4 into the bite of the two pressure rolls, i0 and H, and prevent the garments from becoming wrapped around either auxiliary roll. The guide member 50 extends the entire length of the rolls and is carried by the bearing plates 43, heretofore described. The guide member 50 is triangular in cross section, and its lower edges 5| lie adjacent the auxiliary rolls l2 and I4, and act to stripthe garments from these rolls. From the edges 5| the bar extends inwardly and upwardly, forming concave surfaces 52, which follow the general contour of the pressure rolls Ill and II. The faces 52 end in a common vertex 53, which lies between the pressure rolls Ill and il. As the bar 50 strips the garments from the roll l2 or I4, the faces 52 retain them in contact with the pressure roll ID or II, until they enter the bite of the last named rolls.

The rolls I2 and i4 and the guide 5!] are so mounted that they may move as a unit relative to the pressure rolls l0 and II. To this end the slots 41, in the end frames 20, are of such size as to permit the projecting bearing boxes 49 of the plate 43 to move unrestricted therein. The plate 43 is held in contact with the inner faces of the end frame members 20 by the spring 45 and the guide 50, the ends of which are reduced in cross section, as indicated at 54 in Fig. 4. Due to the resiliency of the spring, and a slight amount of lose play in the bearings 48 for the shafts 40 and 4|, and the guide 50,-the rolls l2 and I4 may rock relative to each other. This permits the roll l4 to remain substantially horizontal and in contact with the pressure roll. I I, while the roll l2 may be separated from its pressure roll III, at one end only, thereby rocking the supplemental roll l2 relative to both the pressure roll "I and the supplemental roll I4. The guide 50, because of the loose play in its bearings, will move with the end plate 43 and the edges 5! of the guide will bear substantially the same relationship to both supplemental rolls.

The construction just described is such that garments may be inserted in the wringer, from either side thereof, and regardless of their position lengthwise of the wringer rolls without placing any undue strain on the supplemental roll assembly, and with insurance that the guide' ported by the end frame members 20 in such a manner that thedrain board 55 may be tilted from one side to the other, depending upon the side from which the clothes are being fed into' the wringer.

The wringer may be driven, as shown in Fig. 1,

by a suitable hand crank 50, which is secured to the wringer shaft 29, one end of which 6| extends some distance beyond the outer face of one frame member 20.

The wringer is so constructed that when the operator's hand becomes gripped between .the pressure roll I0 and its auxiliary roll l2, that the pressure between the rolls I I and I I will auto- -'matically be relieved, and the rolls l0 and 12 will be automatically separated, therebyrelieving the feeding pressure upon the garments and preventing them from pulling the hand further into the bite of the two rolls (l and I2) and into the bite of the pressure rolls J8 and II. To this end, the roll it! is mounted in brackets 34, and which, as heretofore described, are pivoted at 35 to the end frame members 20. The brackets 34 are normally held in position to cause the rolls .l8 and I2 to contact with each other. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the brackets 34 are provided with suitable notches or openings 10, which are engaged by the latches I l, which are secured to a bar 13, mounted in the frame members 2|. As shown in the drawings, each latch H is preferably a sheet metal member, comprising two arms 12, which are connected by the horizontal I bridge 86- The latches H are held in engagement with the notches 10 in frame members 34 by suitable springs 15, one end of each spring being secured to the latches 1|, as at 16, and the other end of which is secured to the frame members 20, as at H.

The arrangement is such that a downward pressure upon the rearwardly extending arm or portion 80 of the levers 12 will cause the latch II to be disengaged from its notch 10, and thereby release the bracket 34, permitting the compression spring 36, heretofore described, to force the bracket 34 about the pivot 35, thereby relieving the pressure between the rolls l0 and H, and causing the roll II] to swing free or separate from its auxiliary roll l2. This separation is due to the fact that the compression spring acts through the medium of the pressure rolls l0 and H, which lie in a plane below the pivots 35 of the bracket members 34.

When the operators fingers are caught between the pressure roll l0 and its auxiliary roll l2,

they cause the latter to be forceddownwardly,

carrying with it the plate 43, which carries the ends of the leaf spring 45. I utilize this movement for releasing the latch H, thus permitting the spring 36 to relieve the pressure between the rolls l0 and H and cause the'rolls l8 and I2 to separate. To this end, the springs 45 project some distance beyond the plates 43, and into the frame members 20. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the ends of this spring are adapted to engage suitable adjusting nuts 85, which are carried by horizontal portions 86 of the latches ll. Hence, as the rolls are separated a predetermined amount, depending upon the setting of the set screw 85, the spring 45 will contact with the set screw 85 and swing one of thelatches ll about its pivot and disengage it from its corresponding notch 16.

It is desirable that both brackets 34 swing simultaneously. Therefore, the brackets 34 are joined, adjacent their upper ends, by a cross frame member 35, and the latches II are mounted on squared portions 96 of the pivot bars 13, which are rotatively carried by the ends of frame members 20. Hence, if the rolls l0 and I2 are separated adjacent one end only, to an extent which will cause that end of the spring 45 to engage the adjusting nut 85 on that side of the wringer, and thereby release the latch II on that side of the wringer, it will rotate the bar 13, and thereby rotate the latch II on the other side of the wringer to be correspondingly .moved or swung, and cause it to simultaneously be disengaged from its notch Ill, thereby swinging both brackets 34 simultaneously and relieving the pressure of the spring 38 in each bracket 34, thereby entirely relieving the pressure between the rolls I 0 and II, and separating the rolls I0 and I2 throughout their entire lengths.

In the modified form of wringer shown in Figs. 8 to 12, inclusive, it will be noted that each pressure roll 28 and 29 is mounted in a pair of winging brackets 34a. In this instance, the roll shafts are mounted in bearings 3la, which are carried in slideways 33a in the brackets 34a. The brackets 34a extend from both faces of the wringer.

The brackets 34a are similar to the brackets 34. shown in Fig. 4, and the brackets on each side are pivoted to the frames 28 on common pivots a. However, this construction permits the feeding of the garments from either face of the wringer, with the same degree of safety as is desirable in power machines, where the wringer may either. be located in the position shown in full lines in Fig..11, or in the position shown in dotted lines. Each bracket 34a. is provided with latches Ha, having horizontal portions 86a, through each of which are positioned adjusting screws l'00. The latches are held in engagement with the notches 88 by a suitable spring Hil, one end of which is connected to each of the latches, Hence, if either auxiliary roll l2 or I4 is separated from its corresponding pressure roll, it

the pressure roll I l is carried in a swinging bracket 34b. The brackets 34a and 34b are similar to the bracket 34, heretofore described, and are pivoted to a common pivot bar 35a, which is carried by the end frame 28, the construction at either end of the wringer being the same as that shown in Fig. 8. This construction is such that if either auxiliary roll 12 or I4 is separated from its corresponding pressure roll, it will cause the pressure between the pressure rolls to be relieved, and likewise cause the pressure roll and its corresponding auxiliary roll l2 or 14 to separate.

The brackets 34a and 34b are provided withlatches I la and 1 lb, respectively, the latches having horizontal portions 86m and 86b, which are adapted to be engaged by lugs 81a and 81b; carried by the plates' 43 immediately beneath the supplementary rolls l2 and M, respectively. The latches Ila and Nb are normally held in engagement with notches 80, in the brackets 34a and 3417, by a suitable compression spring llll, one end of which is connected to each of the latches. The construction is such that if the supplementary roll l4, and the pressure roll H' are separated a predetermined amount, the lugs 31b engage the horizontal portions 8% of the latch 1 lb, thereby causing it and the corresponding latch on the other end of the wringer to be swung about their pivot bars, thereby releasing the brackets 34b on that side of the wringer, causing the pressure between the pressure rolls l0 and H to be released, and causing the pressure roll I l and the auxiliary roll l4 to separate.

It is noted that in the construction as shown,

that were the rolls l0 and I2 separateda, prede The construction 'shown' in Figs. 8 to 12 is especially adapted for power machines. In this instance, the shaft 29 extends beyond the end ends of the block III are curved, as indicated at I25 and I2i, and are adapted to engage the faces frame 20, and carries rigid therewith a gear I02, which is adapted to mesh with a gear III, car: ried by the pivot bar a. on that side of the machine. The pivot bar 351: is then driven by a bevelled gear I", which is driven from a bevelled gear I", which is connected to a power shaft II I.

Figs. 13 to 16 inclusive illustrate a modified form. of mounting ends for the auxiliary rolls I2 and I4, and the guide member I. In this construction, supplementary rolls I2 and I4, and the guides 50, are supported at either end by bearing members IIO, which are carried-in ways III in each end frame member 20. This construction is such that it will prevent relative horizontal shifting of the bearing member and the rolls, but at the same time will permit the rolls to rock longitudinally relative to the pressure rolls and to each other. The brackets or bearing members IID comprise a relatively thin metal plate II2, preferably of brass or other suitable bearing material, which carries the roll shafts and H and the reduced end 54 of the guide 50. 'Rigidly secured to this plate is a suitableblock III which may be of wood or other suitable material, and which is adapted to be supported by a leaf spring I I5, carried by a pin I I8, which is secured to the frame members 20, as at I. It will be noted that the outer side of the blocks I I2 and the plates II2 are curved, as at I20 and I2I, respectively, to permit the latter to be rocked endwise relative to time remain in engagement with the walls I22 and I23 of the end frame, members 20. This permits the rocking of the supplementary rolls in a substantially vertical plane relative to their axes but prevents displacement of the guiding block and its associated bearing plate. Likewise, the

I2'I- and I28 respectively of the end plates 20. This construction permits the rocking of the bearing unit in a vertical plane, transverse to the axis of the shafts 40 and 4|, and likewise permits the compound rocking movement-of the shafts, whereby one supplementary roll and its shaft may be in a normal or horizontal plane, the roll being in contact with its associated pressure roll,

while the other auxiliary roll and its shaft may be rocked, whereby oneend of the roll may be separated from its associated pressure roll, while the other end my be in contact with the pressure This arrangement is such that said compound rocking movement is readily had without any unnecessary displacement of the bearing unit, thereby insuring the fact that the auxiliary rolls will remain at all times substantially beheath their respective pressure rolls.

M The ends of the guide ill are looselyjcarried in openings In in an upwardly-extending ear III of the plate n, to permit the edges 1:: and m of the guide 5| to remain at all timessubstantially the same distance from the rolls I2 and I4 is respectively and at the same time permit the edge m 'to remain substantially the same distance from the roll I. or II, depending, upon which roll is actively engaged with its' corresponding auxiliary roll to guide the garments into the pressure rolls The supplemental rolls I2 and I4 may be geared together, or otherwise driven fromeach other. As heretofore described, when garments are fed between the roll I2 and the pressure roll connection therebetween, and as-the 40, which extends beyond the frame member 20,

as shown in Fig. 3. The gear I40 meshes with a gear I42 under shaft 4I. Hence, the roll I2 will be driven through the gearing I40 and I42, by the roll I4, which will be frictionally driven from the pressure roll II, as the latter rolls remain in contact with each o'ther..while the garments are being fed between the rolls III and I2, as heretofore described.

From the foregoing description, it willbe seen i that I have provided awringer for laundry purposes, lwherein pressure rolls are used to squeeze the water from the garments wherein the garments are inserted between an auxiliary roll and a pressure roll and automaticallyguided into the bite of the pressure rolls and wherein the pres-' sure between the pressure rolls will be automatically relieved and the auxiliary roll and its corresponding pressure roll will become automatically separated when the operators fingers become caught between the rolls. v

I claim: 1 I

'1. In a wring er, a main frame; apair of supplemental frames pivoted to the main frame, a

frame and arranged to contact or be separated from the respective pressure rolls and latches arranged toresist the movement of the suppleseparation between the auxiliary rolls and the associated pressure-rolls to release the'supplemental frames for' movement about their pivots;

. 2..In va wringer, a frame, a pair'of pressure mental frame and responsive to a predetermined rolls carried by said frame to provide an upward- 1y openingbite, resilient means bearing at one end against-a pivoted wringer frame element and atthe other against a pressure roll to force the'two rolls ,intowringing relation and means to automatically rock the element at the end where the'resilient means bears against said .frame element to remove the, pressure from the said pressure rolls upon feeding a predetermined thickness-of material to the 'wringer.

.3. In a wringer to which clothes may be fed from either side, a frame, a pair of pressure rolls carried 'by ,said frame to provide an upwardly opening bite, resilient means bearing at one end the other end against a pressure roll to force the two rolls into .wringing relation, and means to automatically rock the element at theend where the resilient means bears against said sidethereof.-

4. In a wringer, a frame, a pressure roll caragainst a pivoted wringer frame element and at -ried by said frame, a sub-frame pivoted to said frame and carrying a second pressure roll, the pivotfor said sub-frame lying between the axes of the -coacting pressure rolls and means for "automatically rocking said sub-frame about its pivot when a predetermined thickness of mate.-

' rial is'fed to said wringer.

5. In a wringer, a frame, a pressure roll car'- ried by said"frame, a sub-frame, pivoted to said a frame and'carrying a pressure roll, the pivot ri'edbys'aidframe.asub-trainepivotedtothe frame and carrying a second pressure roll, a springbearingatoneendagainstapressureroil and at the other end a sub-frame, the pivot for said sub-frame lying in such position with rspecttotheplaneotthewringerrollsthatthe end of the spring fliemay berockedoutoifitsaetivepoaitiontorelease theoperatingpressureonthepresureroiis; whmapredeterminedthieknemoimaterialis' i'edtosaidwrinzer.

7.Inawringer.airame.apairot(pressure mils earriedbysaidframe audeaehmovabie awayiromthepointottaugeneyot-aaidrolh,

guidemeansadjaeentsaidrolistoguideciothes' .intothebiteotthepreasureromreailient-means tourge said guideimeans into withsaid termined separation between the guide means andone'otthepeeairerulbtereleaaethepres- 5 sure thereon and permit shitting bother said pressure roiisiromeaid point of common'tangeney.

8.Inawringer,airame,apairotpressure roliscarriedbysaidirame,apairotauxiliary 5 rolls disposed beneath;respeetive pressure rolls and adapted, to eoaet therewith to provide an intakebiteoueaeliddeoithewringergresilierit meanstokurgesaid auxiliaryrolls and said pm,

sure rolls together, resilient means in wil 1o wringing pressure to said pressure rolls and mechanism operable when a predetermined '7 thickness of clothes is fed to either Bide oi the wringer to re iea'ee theeoperating pressure. from .the saidpressure rolls without substantial]; disis placing them with m to each other;

9. In a wrinaen'a frame and a sub-frame, a

'pressure'ioil carried in said frame and a second pressure roll in said sub-frame, resflientmeanstourgethetworollsintowringingzo relation, a pair of auxiliary rolls b neathrespectivepressuremllsandadaptedto provide a pair of intake bites therewith, and mechanism aeting on-a predeterminedsepem' respective auxiliary 'roll to shiit the resilient means without substantially shitting either-.01 the preenu'erolls-to relieve the pressurei'roni tion between either our said pressure rolls and its 25 v cmmmnwnneuaso 

